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A LAN Party is a temporary, sometimes spontaneous, gathering of people together with their computers, which they network together primarily for the purpose of playing multiplayer computer games. These local area networks (LANs) come in various sizes, from very small (two people) to very large (more than 7,500 people). Small parties can form spontaneously, but large ones usually require a fair amount of planning and preparation on the part of the organizer.
I know that you’re all big fans of this kind of things. That’s why i thought that i better show you some large lan party photos. Can anyone count the number of computers or people in those pictures?Nooooooooot!!(Just click on each thumbnail to view large size)The Gathering 1998 The Gathering 2002 Assembly 2003 The Gathering 2003 The Gathering 2004 Lan Party DE

LAN party events differ significantly from gaming centers and Internet cafes in that they are generally BYOC based ( bring your own computer) and are not permanent installations, often taking place in general meeting places or residences.
LAN party attendees tend to be more experienced gamers, as the setup required turns most casual gamers away. People who prefer LAN party gaming to Internet or other multiplayer gaming types favor the term “LANner”.
Many commercialized parties offer various tournaments, with competitions in such games as StarCraft, Quake III, Warcraft III, Counter-Strike, Unreal Tournament, Battlefield 2 and the Doom series, sometimes awarding prizes to the winners. Prizes can include computer hardware such as overclocking kits, cases, lights, fans, graphic cards and sometimes even complete computers.
The duration of the event is not standardized; many organized parties last for a weekend, while there have also been longer and shorter parties.
Big LAN parties often offer a quiet place to sleep, shower, and eat, as well as hired security, alternative entertainment (such as music), and a dedicated support crew, as well as a professionally managed network including a connection to the Internet. Catering might come in the form of a bar, delivered food such as pizza, or nearby shops. Some parties come fully catered in the form of regular barbecues or even employment of a catering staff running a public canteen
Gaming clans are groups of gamers that often play in team games and often use these gatherings to meet one another, since they typically play together over the Internet between other parties with little real-world contact. Their goal is often to win tournaments. Clans are often in “ladders” where they move up after winning a match.
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